Policy ready to launch rapid antigen testing

ISLAMABAD: While the number of daily Covid-19 cases has reduced by 27pc in one week, a national policy has been framed to initiate rapid antigen testing to detect coronavirus through a swift method under strict control.

Last week, the number of cases in Pakistan surpassed 3,300 but then suddenly a downward trend was observed. According to data of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 2,458 people tested positive and 67 lost their lives in a single day. The total active cases reached 49,105 and 300 ventilators were in use on Tuesday.

Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) spokesperson Sajid Shah told Dawn that the number of cases was decreasing due to the closure of educational institutions and smart lockdowns in the virus hotspots.

“We have been taking steps to break the chain of the virus by enforcing lockdowns and contact tracing. Moreover, wedding halls have been closed and only outdoor dining is allowed. The number of participants of wedding was earlier limited to 1,000 and then to 500 and finally it was decided that the number should not exceed 300,” he said.

Step taken as most labs give results in up to 72 hours, increasing chances of virus transmission, says official

Mr Shah said the virus can be controlled if people started behaving responsibly and followed the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“Being a developing country, majority of families stay in one room during the winter season to keep themselves warm. Most of the labs are giving result tests in up to 72 hours, so chances of the virus transmission increases. That is why we are encouraging rapid tests as they will be helpful to isolate confirmed patients at the earliest,” he said replying to a question.

The data of the NCOC showed that the national positivity ratio, which was over 7pc a few days ago, had dropped to 6pc. However, the highest positivity ratio of 20.62pc was observed in Mirpur (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) followed by Peshawar 19.58pc and Hyderabad 19.03pc. Moreover, 2,165 Covid patients were in a critical condition across Pakistan.

National Institute of Health (NIH) Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram informed a meeting of the NCOC that based on recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other guidelines, a national policy was framed to initiate rapid antigen testing through a swift method under strict control.

He said all the provinces were taken on board to devise a unified strategy to hold the antigen test. Initially, all government authorised public sector laboratories could perform tests for specified categories. Testing by private labs will be at the discretion of provincial authorities but only those labs would be allowed which are already performing polymerase chain reaction tests, endorsing data in the provincial/national hub and officially authorised for antigen testing by provincial or regional authorities.

Humanitarian assistance

The shock of Covid-19 has pushed the number of people needing humanitarian assistance worldwide to a record high – up by 40pc to the corresponding period last year.

If all those who will need humanitarian aid next year lived in one country, it would be the world’s fifth largest nation with a population of 235 million.

According to a statement released by WHO, the UN and its partners aim at helping 160 million of the most vulnerable people who face hunger, conflict, displacement and impacts of climate change and the pandemic.

Local and global humanitarian organisations stand ready to save lives and livelihoods and respond to the special needs of women and children as well as people with disabilities and mental health needs. They need solidarity and funding from the rest of the world.

The Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2021 sets out 34 response plans covering 56 vulnerable countries. It was presented on Tuesday in Geneva at an event with opening remarks from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock.

“The humanitarian system again proved its worth in 2020, delivering food, medicines, shelter, education and other essentials to tens of millions of people,” said the UN chief.

“But the crisis is far from over. Humanitarian aid budgets face dire shortfalls as the impact of the global pandemic continues to worsen. Together, we must mobilise resources and stand in solidarity with people in their darkest hour of need.”

The lives of people in every nation and corner of the world have been upended by the impact of the pandemic. Those already living on a knife’s edge are being hit disproportionately hard by rising food prices, falling incomes, interrupted vaccination programmes and school closures. Extreme poverty has risen for the first time in 22 years. Multiple famines loom on the horizon.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said: “The rich world can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. The same is not true in the poorest countries. The Covid-19 crisis has plunged millions of people into poverty and sent humanitarian needs skyrocketing. Next year we will need $35 billion to stave off famine, fight poverty and keep children vaccinated and in school.